Land of Sky
This combo brings together some of the best contra dance musicians south of the border, the New England Border, that is!  Laura is joined by Roger Gold of the Elftones fame on guitar and accomplished pianist and composer Paul Moore on accordion and piano in this band equally at home playing contra, English or swing. Together, these fine contra dance musicians make dance magic whenever they play.  Add Mara Shea, the Elftones fiddler extraordinare to Land of Sky and you have the newest, most exciting contra band in the Southeast--The Skytones! Powered by the twin fiddling of Laura and Mara, this band can leap tall buildings at a single bound and take the whole dang dance floor with them. "Incredible!" said one dancer, "amazing!" said another, "They gave me goosebumps!" said a third.  'Nuff said!


The Goosebone Prophets
Laura and Roger Gold are joined by virtuoso bassist Jeff Hersk to create kick-ass contra dance music in the southern old-time style.  This trio plays old-time music that is made for contra dancing--paying special attention to phrasing, tempo and musicality so the dancing is finger lickin' good!


Laura and the Lava Lamps  Listen to the Lava Lamps!
This is the band that propelled Laura to national recognition as a contra dance fiddler.  Laura is joined by Dave Wiesler on piano and Ralph Gordon on bass in this ensemble.  Dave is widely respected for his sensitive and powerful backup in a wide variety of dance styles. Ralph, renowned for his command of varied musical idioms, provides a solid foundation for the trio with his exquisite sense of timing and rhythmic feel.  Established in 1994, when Laura, Dave and Ralph all lived in the DC area, this band still loves to get together when they can, though time, new jobs, marriages, and children can sometimes make that difficult. 

When Dave or Ralph can't make it, Paul Moore is eager to add his swing inspired improvisational piano to the band and Jeff Hersk is more than happy to fill in on bass.  No matter the combination of musicians, this band still makes contra dancers swoon in the search for a primordial groove in perpetual motion.


Fly By Night
Watch out when Laura is joined by Julia Weatherford on fiddle and cello, Beth Magill on flute and percussion and Karen Gaughan on piano!  This sizzling, 100% woman powered band can take you anywhere you want to go on the dance floor! Upbeat traditional New England contra dance tunes, lilting Celtic melodies, and funky,rockin' originals drive dancers wild.  Just when you think you can't take anymore, the band brings it back home with lowdown, driving southern fiddle tunes.  If you want to take flight on the dance floor, this is the band for you!


The Wilson Allstars
Last but definitely not least, this band is drawn from the colorful cast of musical characters populating Laura's day job as a faculty member at Warren Wilson College.  Laura is joined by students, faculty and staff to make up this band playing dance tunes from a variety of traditions.  Currently the band features Matt Turino on fiddle, Megan Cornett on guitar, and Jeff Hersk on bass.


Sing and Swing with Curious George
Laura is joined by Paul Moore in this traditional American swing combo.  Laura plays swing fiddle and sings lead in this band which features Paul's piano improvisations.  Classic swing at its best, this music is sure to please dancers as well as those want to sing along as they sit one out!  This band is also a favorite among contra dancers in the Southeast for their swinging interpretations of traditional dance melodies.  Laura and Paul are often joined by Jeff Hersk on bass in this ensemble.


Heartfelt Nation Blending with The Free Range Ensemble
Laura is in very good company in this world music ensemble, as she is joined by Akira Satake, internationally known for his lyrical banjo playing and complex compositions featuring melodic banjo and Julia Weatherford, a veteran of the Asheville Symphony who grounds the group with her solid understanding of a vast repertoire of classical and traditional music for the cello.  Together this combo of fine musicians weaves a rich tapestry of cross-cultural melody, harmony and rhythm to create a world music sound as a classical trio.